The men’s basketball team went 1-1 this past week, defeating Emory University 76-68 in overtime on Sunday and losing to Rochester University 77-53 on Friday. With the victory on Sunday, the Judges improved to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in University Athletic Association play.

Judges 76, Emory 68

The Judges fell behind early in the game as the Emory Eagles jumped out on an 11-3 run. 

Brandeis trailed 18-9, but a three-point shot from forward Jordan Cooper ’18 with 12:20 remaining in the first half started a 15-0 Judges run. This streak, however, was not enough.

Emory regained the lead at 29-28 with about 2:30 left, but another three-point shot from Cooper gave Brandeis a 34-31 lead heading into halftime. 

Brandeis opened the second half with a 10-2 run. A layup from guard Nate Meehan ’18 put the Judges up by 11 to give them a  44-33 lead. 

The Judges led 52-44 halfway through the second half, but Emory regained the lead 58-55 with 3:34 remaining, following a three-point shot from Emory guard Whit Rapp. 

Brandeis responded with center John Powell ’17 hitting two free-throws and took 59-58 lead on a three-point shot from guard Robinson Vilmont ’17. 

After a layup from Powell increased the Brandeis lead, Emory guard Adam Gigax tied the game at 61-61 on a clutch three-point shot with 1:17 left in regular play.

Emory had possession with 19.7 seconds remaining, but guard Tim Reale ’17 stole the ball with roughly five seconds left and the Judges called a timeout. 

Following the timeout, Vilmont dribbled to the right corner but could not connect on a potential game-winning shot. 

Brandeis outscored Emory 15-7 in overtime to give them the win, hitting a commendable 13 free-throws in the extra period. Cooper scored a team-high 24 points, while also tallying one assist, one rebound and one steal. Vilmont was able to add a solid 16 points along with seven rebounds and four assists. 

As a team, the Judges shot 41.8 percent from the field while the Eagles shot 40.3 percent. Brandeis’ bench outscored Emory’s bench 25-10 in the game. Vilmont praised the bench effort in the win.

“In practice we just compete against each other, and it shows that if you practice hard, it [will] show up in the game,” Vilmont said. 

“[When] we play game-like situations during practice, everyone gets involved, everyone goes after each other, we battle, and it makes the game a lot easier for everybody.”

Vilmont also noted the team’s effort in the game.

“We just had more heart and more hunger. We were tired of losing these close nail-biting games, so we just really focused on hitting our free-throws, rebounding and taking one possession at a time,” Vilmont said.

Judges 53, Rochester 77

Brandeis and Rochester stayed close throughout most of the first half on Friday night, as the game featured four ties and two lead changes in the first 13 minutes. After a three-point shot from Vilmont cut the Rochester lead to two points at 34-32, Rochester went on a 12-2 run. That run gave Rochester a seven point lead, beating Brandeis 46-39 at halftime. 

In the second half, the Judges shot a mere 15.4 percent from the field and even worse from beyond the arc. Rochester opened the second half on a another long run of 14-2 and, at one point, led by an enormous margin of  26 points. Vilmont led the Judges in scoring with only nine points in the second half. Guard Carlin Haymon ’18 scored five points as well, and guard Colby Smith ’16 added another five points to go along with two rebounds and just one assist.

Though the Judges did not shoot well against Rochester, Brandeis coach Brian Meehan applauded the team’s shot selections.

“When I watched the Rochester game [on film], it appeared that we really didn’t play well. It was a struggle, it was terrible, it was this and that, and really what it was was simply we got a lot of good open looks and we didn’t hit them,” Meehan said. “We started missing shots, and you start to lose your composure around the basket, you’re pressing to get some baskets in there. What I saw on film was we got everything we wanted; we ran our offense, we got open shots and we just didn’t convert.”

The Judges continue UAA play on the road this weekend, playing at Washington University on Friday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at the University of Chicago at noon.